From shallow bays to the continental shelf and its fringes, at depths of about 30 to 200 meters or more, weights of 40 to 200, and sometimes 250 are used to target red sea bream, warasa, and flounder, as well as scorpionfish, rosy seabass, and alfonsino... In what can be called mid-range boat fishing in terms of water depth and power rank, the concept of mid-game is a new proposal for enjoying the encounters with each individual fish more deeply.

The Mid Game game rod was created to enhance the gameplay of fishing in mid-deep waters, where fishing with a stationary rod has traditionally been the standard, by allowing the angler to manipulate the rod to lure and bite. The Mid Game XR has now evolved with Shimano's latest rod technology to improve operability and sensitivity, and the high-load model now has a wider range of weight loads to handle, adding even more room.

Not only does it have the leeway and operability in situations where unexpected loads are added, such as drop fishing for bluefish, nomase fishing, and chum fishing with high-load rigs, but it also exhibits the same operability and sensitivity even in situations where you need to change the weight from 150 to 200 depending on the point and tide, such as when fishing for rosy sea bass, scorpion fish, and light alfonsino, etc. The leeway that doesn't make you feel anxious about the weight load gives anglers peace of mind and fun, so please enjoy the fascinating mid-range with the Mid Game XR.

If everyone feels "comfortable" the moment they hold a rod and reel, and feels "less tired" throughout the day, how much more comfortable fishing would be. The X-Seat Technical Gun Grip on the Mid Game XR realizes exactly this kind of comfort and the operability that comes from it.

This grip was born from a thorough review of the Extreme Gun Grip. It has been downsized without compromising its strong points of reducing fatigue and stability, and is compatible with both left and right-handed reels, regardless of hand size or right-handed reeling. The front part has a trigger shape that makes it easy to hook your fingers, improving operability and allowing for fine rod work, while also achieving a high level of palming regardless of the size of the reel.

Try holding this grip, which is the embodiment of Shimano's commitment. You will clearly see that the shape allows the hand to naturally fit snugly. Holding the rod in the palm of your hand gives your wrist more room and reduces fatigue. Palming is done in a way that is less likely to cause tendonitis, and is extremely effective in high-stress fishing. Meanwhile, stability and operability are two sides of the same coin, so by placing the trigger section on the front, operability has been dramatically improved while maintaining stability.

In actual fishing, in addition to the weight of the tackle, there is also the resistance of the current to the rod operation and the tackle, and the large kinetic energy of the fish pulling. In extreme terms, no matter how light the rod is, it cannot be comfortable if the load is supported between the fingers. Shimano's unique grip shape that makes use of the strong points of the fingers is the X-Seat Technical Gun Grip.

*1: Excluding HH model.

And the HH model, which is the limit-breaking model of 250, adopts the extreme gun grip that emphasizes load reduction and stability. Power loss is also kept to a minimum, so you won't lose power when hooking or fighting.

The sensitivity of a fishing rod can be broadly divided into two types: visual sensitivity, which is determined by visual observation, and hand sensitivity, which is determined by touch. Visual sensitivity is determined by the movement of the tip of the rod, while hand sensitivity is literally the vibration transmitted from the point where the hand touches the rod. The carbon monocoque grip installed on the Mid Game XR amplifies and transmits this vibration (information) to the angler when the rod is held under the arm or against the elbow.

This information is useful not only for fish bites, but also for learning about changes in underwater conditions, such as the bottom sediment when searching the seabed and the resistance of the line due to currents, and can be called a ``third sensitivity'' after visual and tactile sensations.

It is lightweight thanks to its thin one-piece molding, and is also equipped with a carbon hold position that is convenient when the rod is placed down. It combines sensitivity, ease of handling, and ease of use in actual fishing.

There are three types of action, 64, 73, and 82, four levels of hardness, M, MH, H, and HH, and you can choose the length depending on the characteristics of the field such as waves and the tackle you are using. The mid-game lineup has nine options that you can choose based on the fish you want to catch and the fishing spot you want to go to. Each model has a wide range of weight loads, so you can use them for multiple targets. When in doubt, choose the one you like.

[64 is mainly for chum and flounder fishing]

The 64 series, which has been refined for use in groundbait fishing, comes in two models: the flexible 64M230 for use in bays and the long-length 64MH240 that is easy to use in the open sea.

[The versatile 73 is your choice for different fish species and fields]

The 73 series offers an excellent balance of operability and power and is highly versatile. There are five models: the 73MH190, which is suitable for tilefish, rockfish, horse mackerel and hairtail; the 73MH230, which makes it easy to settle the tackle even in swells and waves; the 73H190, which is suitable for tilefish, rockfish, rosy seabream, black porgy and spear squid in addition to tilefish; the 73H230, which has a longer overall length for comfortable light drop-casting and light swimming; and the 73HH210, which can accommodate weights up to 250 and covers rosy seabream, light alfonsino and drop-casting.

[82: Attacking mid-depth waters and squid with a handheld]

The 82 series prioritizes operability, sensitivity, and response and comes in two models: the 82MH180, which is designed for catching scorpionfish, rockfish, horse mackerel, and spear squid, and the 82H190, which is suitable for rosy sea bass, black porgy, scorpionfish, and spear squid.

The tip is the angler's eye and an extension of his fingers. In actual fishing, it is the part that you concentrate on and look at for the longest time. Shimano offers solid tips made of carbon and glass materials, including Toughtech ∞, Toughtech, Toughtech α, and High Power X Solid, for each target and tone. We aim for high perfection for each rod by carefully setting each rod to make the most of their strengths, such as thinness, hardness, resilience, and guide placement. The solid tip becomes more familiar the more you use it and brings out the fun of fishing, but it is also the most delicate part of the rod. It may be damaged by troubles such as line tangles during actual fishing. In the unlikely event that the solid part of the tip is damaged, you can replace only that part with "Solid Tip Replacement Repair Service (paid)". We support you in having a long relationship with your beloved rod.